December 13, 2024
Parker/Silva's Big Nights Not Enough For Bucs in Loss to #17 Monroe
K'jei Parker and Breno Silva combined for 49 points, but it wasn't enough for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Friday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena as they ran into a well-oiled machine of the #17 Monroe Mustangs who shot 52% from the field and 47% from the three point line to run away with a 90-75 win to open the 2024 FSW Classic in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- K'jei Parker and Breno Silva combined for 49 points, but it wasn't enough for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Friday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena as they ran into a well-oiled machine of the #17 Monroe Mustangs who shot 52% from the field and 47% from the three point line to run away with a 90-75 win to open the 2024 FSW Classic in Fort Myers.
The Bucs got off to a slow start against the Mustangs as they went without a bucket over the first three minutes of the contest with Monroe getting out to a 7-0 lead. The Bucs got on the board for the first time at just under the 17:00 mark, but the Mustangs got the next four to push their lead to nine at 11-2. The Bucs continued to trail through the middle of the period when a pair of Breno Silva three pointers drew them back to within five at 21-16. Monroe answered with six straight to push their lead back to double digits and the Bucs went ice cold, managing just two points over a six minute stretch as the Mustang lead blew up to 41-23 with under a minute to go in the half. Another Silva triple halted the Monroe run, but at the break it was all Mustangs as they led FSW 46-28 after 20 minutes of action.
Sophomore K'jei Parker tried to put the Bucs on his back in the second half, dialing up a pair of early threes to begin the period to get FSW back to within a baker's dozen at 51-38. After a burst from the Mustangs, another Parker triple made it a 13 point game once again, and moments later a steal and score from Abdoulaye Konate drew the Bucs back to within eight at 58-50 with 11:39 to go. FSW went scoreless for a two minute stretch midway through the period and Monroe took advantage, going on an 8-0 run to cushion their lead back to 17 at 71-54 with 7:19 to go. The Bucs ratcheted up their effort on the defensive end and created some havoc on the Crowther Roofing floor, getting back into the game on a three from Parker to make it 76-65 as the clock ticked under 5:00 remaining. The Bucs looked like they had one more push in them as Chol Machot threw down a two handed slam to cut the Mustang lead to single digits with under 2:30 to go, but they wouldn't be able to hold the momentum as Monroe got the next six points of the night and FSW failed to score again as they went down 90-75 at the final horn.
Parker and Silva both went for career highs for the Bucs in the loss as Parker scored 26 on 10-20 shooting while Silva drilled six three pointers and put up 23 for FSW. The Bucs simply couldn't slow down the Mustangs as Monroe finished the game shooting 52% from the field and 47% from three while turning it over just seven times on the night.
FSW drops their second straight to fall to 5-4 on the year while Monroe improves to 12-2.
The Bucs will try to wrap up the first half of the schedule on a positive note Saturday as they take on Victory Rock Prep in a 4 PM start from Suncoast Credit Union Arena in their final game of 2024.